Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-05-16
HOPE FOR THE HEATHER.
A LUTHERAN CLERGYMAN APPROVES
THE ANDOveR THEOLOGY,

And vigorously Attacks the Calvinistic
Idea of Observation-Disclosures a Better
Creed Than Damnation for Ignorance
A Personal NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. in the
South Carolina Episcopal Church.
WASHINGTON CITY, May l6-Rev William
E Parson, of the Church of the Reformation
QIutheranl, preached very interesting SER
mon Sunday on the "Anlover Question in
the Concrete" Instead of the sweeping ques-
ton as to the fate of the millions who died
without hearing of Christ, he took the case of
one man and explained that ten years ago
there died in the ancient city of kioto, Japan,
a man who was by nature royal soul-Mr.
KIDD, the trusted advisor of the emperor. He
was simple in manner, atfectionate in dispo-
sition, a good man naturally Those who
knew him best called him a pious man,
though he believed in no religion He knew
too much to believe in Buddhism the popular
religion of his own country, and not quite
enough to accept Christianity intelligently
''What was his fate" asked the pas
tor. practically he knew nothing of Christ
he wanted to know more: his desire was all
right; he wanted Christianity to come into
his empire The Andover question in the
concrete is simply this-what is the destiny of
that man. Was il sealed hopelesSly at death.
Is that man gone to he the companion of
thieves, murderers and scotfersi Is he to I've
judged by some absolute amount of creed
knowledge, falling which he passes under a
fatal and final condemnation The thought
is monstrous, 1t is unchristian 1t is bar
barrie Reason, justice, mercy, Affection
every instinct of the soul, the scriptures
themsefves-all cry out against such d horri-
ble teaching
"Yet that is the teaching against which An
dover protests. When Christ said, If had
not come and spoken to them they had not bad
sin, he meant that no man can ever come To
the fun degree of responsibility until he has
| had the fullest possible opportunity. When
| Paul said, How shall they believe in Him
| of whom they have not heardH he WIS apollo
| giving for state of ignorance not condemn
| ing men for it
The speaker said we had better believe in
humiliation, universali>m, purgatnly, nr al
most any doctrine which had some show OF
mercy in 1t. He characterized the Andover
prosecution as IA persecution, and sad that
| lTbUh HIS Years III experience III a IWtlSl
| land and acquaintance with MANY mission.
| aries the very man To send out as a missionary
was the man who carried no such awful mes
sage as that there was no hope for those who
had had the misfortune 10 depart this life III
advance of the messenger. He affirmed that
there was not verse of Scripture Ia bear out
the traditional teaching, hut that many Scrip
lures contained the larger hope"
After full discussion OF the questi, u from
the standpoint of reason and scripture, Mr.
Parson closed by saving, MY friend who
died ten years ago without knowing Christ i:
in the hands of Cor who can ,iu no injustice
anywhere And what is true of one hold,
true of millions The Andover question is il
the minds of intelligent Christians Of al
churches, and the multitude are answering
| this with a liberahts that grows with tn.
passing years | thank God that the ,inrcI
to which belong has no such awful do-ns
as to the fate Of the heather as would SihjeGf
her ministers 10 a trial for hereSv for h,,dn,.
that there might lie some hoI,e for thos4 VIII.
die without having heard of Christ
Mr. kuki. the Japanese minister. who wa
present with his secretary OF legation al th-
close of the sermon warmly congratulate
the pastor. and expressed himself AS eSl--clall,
gratified with the references 10 Me- KIDD tb,
former privy councillor of the emperor